5 things to know before Falcons-Bills kickoff
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Here are five things to know before the Falcons (7-8) face the Buffalo Bills (9-6) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.
1. Saturday roster moves: The Falcons activated three from the reserve/COVID-19 list, and promoted five while nine players remain on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The Falcons activated outside linebacker Brandon Copeland, quarterback Feleipe Franks and safety Richie Grant from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Saturday.
Tight end Parker Hesse, cornerback Luther Kirk, cornerback Lafayette Pitts, defensive end Nick Thurman and wide receiver Austin Trammell were promoted to the active roster as COVID-19 replacements.
The Falcons have nine players remaining on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
The Falcons activated defensive tackle Tyeler Davison from the reserve/COVID-19 list and signed offensive tackle Rick Leonard on Friday.
The signing of Leonard was necessitated by backup swing tackle Jason Spriggs going on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.
Davison has started 11 games and played in 12 this season. He has 30 tackles and has played 358 defensive snaps (43%).
Leonard, 25, was on the Falcons’ practice squad during weeks 11 through 13 of the season. He was signed off the Vikings practice squad. Leonard, who’s 6-foot-7 and 311 pounds, was drafted by the Saints in the fourth round (127th overall) of the 2018 draft.
2. Falcons on the reserve/COVID-19 list: OT Jason Spriggs, TE Hayden Hurst, DT Jonathan Bullard, S Jaylinn Hawkins, practice-squad G Willie Beavers, WR Tajae Sharpe, OLB James Vaughters, ILB Dorian Etheridge and DT Marlon Davidson.
3. Series record: This will be the 13th meeting between the Falcons and the Bills. The Falcons lead the series 7-5.
Playoff scenario: Click here for the Falcons playoff scenarios.
Key matchups: Click here of the three key matchups to. watch.
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Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
